WR Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as a top receiving threat.

There is nothing to worry about with their pass offense; Matt Leinart has two awesome targets in WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.  It will be needed once again, as the Cardinals did little to improve their run blocking.  However, it is not their run offense that will be the top problem.  Just as in 2006, Cardinals’ fans are looking at another bad defensive year.  Expect the offense to throw in bunches all year trying to play catch up.

2007 GAME PLAN

Offense: Edgerrin James leads the running attack for the Cardinals, behind an offensive line that was completely revamped halfway through last season.  James’ yardage did improve after the shuffle, but don’t expect number that he gathered while in Indianapolis.  The addition of tackles Levi Brown (fifth) overall pick out of Penn State) and Mike Gandy (UFA from Buffalo) will improve the offensive line, hoping to give James room to run and Leinart time to pass.

Defense: Ken Whisenhunt replaces Dennis Green at Head Coach, and though he inherited a good offense, the defense Green leaves behind stinks.  He will count on returning Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast to instill a defense with some new looks, if not a full change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense by mid-season.  If the change to a 3-4 is instituted, then expect a very bumpy road.

SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS

Matt Leinart, QB: 2007 will be Leinart’s first full season as the starting QB leading the potent Cardinals passing attack.  When Fitzgerald and Boldin line up opposite each other, Leinart has one of the most deadly receiving duos in the league.  In his 11 starts last year, Leinart failed to throw a touchdown in only three games, and had the same number of games under 200 yards passing (each was a different week than he failed to throw a TD), a consistent performance out of the rookie.

Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin, WR: This set of receivers will allow the Cardinals, who will be playing catch up a lot in the third and fourth quarters of football games, to have a chance to do just that...catch up and win.  Fitzgerald if fast, strong and can out-jump nearly any corner in the end zone.  A strained hamstring stole three games from Fitzgerald last season.  Boldin will work the inside and gain those valuable first downs.  He has also been injured two of the past three years.  Both enter this season healthy.

Edgerrin James, RB: The Edge disappointed the Cardinals front office, fans, and fantasy owners with a performance that was well under his career average.  The offense did improve as the year went on, and off-season improvements to the line could produce more holes for James, who prefers to run between the tackles.

Adrian Wilson, DB: Wilson does it all when he is on the field.  Conceivably, he could finish 2007 with 100 tackles, eight sacks, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.  That is and IDP stud, and he’s on the Cardinals.  He could be anywhere on the field on any given play, which the defense has needed the past few years.  The possible change in defense could see a change in his role, and a drop in numbers.

FRANCHISE PLAYER
None

TRANSITION PLAYER
None

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
LB Monty Beiesel: UFA
DT Chris Cooper: UFA
C Nick Leckey: RFA
S Hanik Milligan: UFA
RB Marcel Shipp: UFA
DE Antonio Smith: EFA

PLAYERS ACQUIRED
G Brad Badger: UFA
DE Rodney Bailey: UFA
CB Ralph Brown: UFA
T Mike Gandy: UFA
S Terrence Holt: UFA
C Al Johnson: UFA
NT Ross Kolodziej: UFA
DE Joe Tafoya: UFA

PLAYERS LOST
T Leonard Davis: UFA Cowboys
G Chris Liwienski: UFA Dolphins
CB David Macklin: UFA Redskins
RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo: (released)
TE Fred Wakefield: UFA Raiders
WR Troy Walters: UFA Lions